On August 19^th, 2007, Gerri Gorman returned from a 2 week stay in Nicargua. She traveled there with Marilou Carrera, an advanced practice graduate student in the College of Nursing at the University of Illinois at Chicago where Gerri is on faculty. They arrived in Managua and were met by Fabrizio Fasano, the Program Director for Emergency’s fledgling Women and Infant Health Center in Leon. Together with his colleague Emiliano, Fabrizio showed them  around Leon and introduced them to staff in the one public hospital in Leon and to faculty in the Medical School at the University. They also brought us to the site of the proposed Center and shared with us their design for the hospital and grounds.

In Gerri's own words:

<<Although we tried to educate ourselves for what we would encounter (we knew, for example, that Nicaragua is the most impoverished in Central American countries, with the highest infant mortality rate and lowest average age for a first delivery) nothing can adequately prepare those of us from prosperous and wasteful cultures for what it means to provide health care amidst such prevalent and unremitting poverty. Conditions on the maternity ward were stunning: laboring and post-partum women lay on gurneys without linens, sometimes two women to one bed; pain medication is a rare luxury; little ventilation stirred the stifling air and cracks in the walls were taped with plastic covering.

A single nurse routinely cares for up to 30 patients. Discarded and broken medical equipment litter gangways and rooftops. Following the last presidential election, even therapeutic abortions to save the life of the mother were outlawed. Women give birth to their first child on average between 16-18 years of age.

All of the people with whom we spoke, within the hospital, university and community organizations, were greatly enthusiastic about Emergency’s plans for the health care center in Leon.>>

-In July E-USA, sponsored the screening of the film “David and Layla” by Jay Jonroy an Iraqi Kurdistan native. The film is an intelligent comedy about reconciliation through recognition of diversity and mutual respect. Debate followed re: Emergency programs in Sulaymania.

 

 

-During July Anna Colombi was invited to present at two events organized at Loyola University and at UIC school of Nursing. An Emergency  representative presented at the UIC Pediatric Grand Round. A fundraiser was organized at the Heartland Café’.

-During August a Nurse delegation led by Gerri Gorman went to the Emergency’s construction site in Leon in Nicaragua and collected data to prepare a needs assessment to be used for grant preparation.

 

-On September 21 a key fund raising event will be organized   leveraging on Renee Rosensteel photo exhibit on Afghanistan and Gerri’s visist to Nicaragua

 

-The Pittsburgh Charter School is buying 50 copies of Green Parrots for classroom use. 

- The Neighborhood Academy high school is considering putting up a production of the Theater piece “Green Parrots”

 

-E-USA had a booth at the DiverseCity festival on August 19 & 20th, staffing coordinated by Dennis Looney, including orientation sessions for staffers

 

-The Children’s Museum project is advancing; October 20^th through December 1st. Translations will be done by University of Pittsburgh graduate students coordinated by Dennis Looney. We still need a minimum of $5000 for this project.

 

-The architect of the “green” hospital in Sudan  has been invited to present on this topic during the Children’s Museum exhibit by the Architectural Association.